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CD reviews

Into the Pandemonium

Celtic Frost - Into the Pandemonium Audio CD

A fair review of the Celtic Frost "Into the Pandemonium" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Celtic Frost reviews here, or go back to the Celtic Frost tabs.

Band: Celtic Frost
Title: Into the Pandemonium
Rating:

Release Date: 1998-11-24
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Mexican Radio 2: Mesmerised 3: Inner Sanctum 4: Tristesses de La Lune 5: Babylon Fell [Jade Serpent] 6: Caress into Oblivion [Jade Serpent II] 7: One in Their Pride [Porthole Mix] 8: I Won't Dance (The Elders' Orient) 9: Sorrows of the Moon 10: Rex Irae [Requiem] 11: Oriental Masquerade 12: One in Their Pride [Re-Entry Mix] 13: In the Chapel in the Moonlight 14: Inevitable Factor 15: Inevitable Factor [Alternate Vox]

Expand Much?
Strange experience listening to this very CD. Although it seemed on their 3rd album they would again mature and perhaps throw a few new things into the mix, it did come as a shock to hear the new version of CF coming out of my speakers. . . I had a few CD's in the changer, one was Only Theatre Of Pain by Christian Death. . . well long story short, I guess I was not paying attention because I thought the Theatre Of Pain CD was going on and on and on, and they were a bit heavier and stranger than I remember or something until I realized it was Celtic Frost that had been playing for the most part.
After figuring that out, it can be an enjoyable CD to listen to, it has some very different sounds thrown in that have been mentioned plenty, and it is still quite heavy.

One of the more creative, influential bands in Metal history, not one to go stale from one CD to the next rehashing the same sound, it can be frustrating if you are looking for the Morbid Tales version, or even the Mega Therion version, but in all that experiementing is a brave new CF ready to hit you head on like it or not. . . it's interesting and and excellent CD of classic metal. .

Nostalgia Only
Those that know that deep, dark Thrashing wall of noise will absolutely agree this record's approach to distance FROST from all the other up-n-comers at that time failed wholly and miserably. I am a fan of the old sound of CELTIC FROST.
The aggressive technique of "separation by way of the unexpected" should of been banned by the label reps, and for sure by the circle of those closest to the band. Someone should of spoke up about just how god awful the majority of material was / is.
As there are indeed many other ways of establishing one's own band as a different breed or better said; a breed apart (. . . for those into Stephen King )than focusing on the un-needed ( Track 1 for instance ) or the strange ( Track 2,4,6,7,8-12) to get your point across.
I give this record 2 stars in total. 1 star for the title, cover art, layout, production and the band's attempt with " Babylon Fell ".
The second star is given for "Inner Sanctum", the only song on this album worth the actual time spent recording its entirety.

oh, please!
this is a great alt black metal cd for this time. it's heavy and creative. . cool!.

The greastest alternative CD ever recorded...BAR NONE
The darkness was still there, as was the evil undertones. With the release of "Into the Pandemonium," the band nixed the black make-up, upside down crosses and chain mail, and took a bit different approach--they just made cutting edge music. But now, the band was pulling technology into the mix. Remember--by 1987, speed metal and death metal was played out. The only bands left to play fast and scary were Slayer, Anthrax and Kreator and a whole slew of crappy wannabe bands. If they didn't sound like one of those three bands, they weren't playing speed metal. By the late 80's we saw bands like Circle Jerks, DRI and the Descendents rising and falling in fame. Metallica had changed their sound for the radio. Megadeth now sucked profusely. It is safe to say that Speed/Death Metal was A FLASH IN THE PAN.

Now--back to CF. "Into the Pandemonium" paved the way for the next generation of metal. . . the sludge, the rock infusion, interwining melody with mayhem, orchestration with chaos, good with evil.

It opens with a Wall of Voodoo cover, MEXICAN RADIO. What a re-do! Drummer Reed St. Mark rips this song to shreds. Great opener, much in the same vain as an early 80's metal song.

Next, we hear MESMERIZED, an introduction to the new CF. This song is so dark, so evil, so progressive. . . Ive never heard anything like it in my life. Dark, droning guitars, the sound of an acoustic drifting in the background, and TG WArrior's vocals--the sound of a dying man taking his last breath.

INNER SANCTUM is next. They do this one well live. It is a blistering, fast, bludgeoning song, with remnants of Morbid Tales pushing it along. One of the most aggressive tracks on the CD.

Depending on your verion, the next song is either SORROWS OF THE MOON or TRISTESSES DE LA LUNE. It is the same song. Sorrows is the metal version, Tristesses is the orchestral version. Equally evil, dark, we hear the dying man's groan voice again. I am glad that the orchestral version is included on some pressings--it really goes to show you how closely their metal songs are tied to classical, European orchestral arrangements, with violins, tympanies and the like.

BABYLON FELL and CARESS INTO OBLIVION are next, a two-part selection which is the highlight of the CD. These two will remind you of "To Mega Therion," both in sound and theme. Evil, slow, then fast, dark, and scary.

ONE IN THEIR PRIDE is a highly dated, experimental tune, consisting of a drum machine and sampled voices from a shuttle launch. Now that rap, hip hop and R&B are so prevalent, this song sucks.

I WON'T DANCE is the gem of this CD. It may not be the best, but this song paved the way for music to come. This song ROCKS. . . plain and simple. It sounds like it could be a White Zombie song! It is my firm belief that this song influenced so many of our grunge rockers of the 90's, and metal bands like Cathedral. I've played this song for friends of mine who don't like metal, and they are mesmerized (no pun intended). The drums, of course, are excellent.

REX IRAE is a pretty cool song. In 87, most of the people I'd play this for were freaked out, and didn't like it. It's basically an orchestral arrangement, with a symphonic band, plus guitar and drums. It is about the death of a king, and the vocals trade between the dying king, a female nymph, and them TG Warrior's evil grunts. An errie guitar solo is performed by guest musician Andres Dobbler.

ORIENTAL MASQERADE is a short orchestral procession, complete with guitars and drums, much like Rex Irae. In fact, it can be argued that this song is actually the funeral procession for the dead king--sort of an after thought for Rex Irae.

On the remasterd version of the CD, there are a number of additional songs added which I think take away from this masterpiece of an album. They were recorded much later, with different musicians, and don't at all sound or feel like "Into the Pandemonium. " The original release ended with Oriental Masquerade.

IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF BOTH CLASSICAL, SYMPHONIC, ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND ALSO METAL, THIS ALBUM WILL BE YOU OWN PERSONAL NATIONAL ANTHEM. 10 STARS!!!!.

Highlight music..
This is one of them. There were so many fabulous albums during the 80's. We don't talk about a usual metal lp. This so much more. So perfectly built. Musicians have excelled and surpassed themselves. It is a blend of dark-death-gothic-black metal experiment which finally turns to be magnificent. Vocals are eerie dark and have a strange beauty. . Guitars kick with amazing rhythm sessions. . Check the drummer,he was so progressive and ahead. . . About the spoilers now. . They better buy a britney spears cd.

You can see a complete list of all Celtic Frost discography, or go back to the Celtic Frost tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.